Category Archives: Summer

Yonder Cider & Bale Breaker Brewing Announce Joint Taproom In Ballard

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Many of you probably know about Yonder Cider. However, if you haven’t been following the news you may not be aware that Yonder Cider was recently forced to close their carry-out taproom in Seattle’s Greenwood neighborhood due to a series of (in my opinion, unfounded) complaints form ONE anonymous and apparently disgruntled neighbor. It was sad and, frankly, maddening to see the city allow a single person’s unverified complaints to shut down a struggling small business with their bogus claims.

Thanks to a new partnership with Bale Breaker Brewing Company, however, Yonder will be back with a vengeance. That’s because Bale Breaker & Yonder have just announced that they will be opening a joint taproom in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood by this Summer. They will be moving into the space formerly occupied by the now closed Populuxe Brewing Company (RIP, Populuxe).

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Firestone Walker Brings Back Double Jack For The Season

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These days, the New England/Hazy IPA is all the rage. In fact, I’ve even visited a few places over the past year where I couldn’t find a single West Coast style IPA on tap – just hazies. Thankfully, there’s been a bit of push back lately, and I’m starting to see more West Coast IPAs available again.

One of my all time favorite West Coast style IPAs is Double Jack from Firestone Walker Brewing Company out of California. I was sad when they discontinued Double Jack in 2016 in order to focus on the launch their Luponic Distortion series and Leo v. Ursus series of IPAs. Now though, by popular demand, Double Jack is back – at least seasonally.

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Cascade Brewing Releases Mango Road

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There are several breweries in the Seattle/Tacoma area that make some truly excellent Sour Ales. Breweries like Holy Mountain, Urban Family, Mirage and Engine House No. 9 immediately come to mind, among others. I visit them all fairly regularly to satiate my thirst for delicious sours.

Before we had such great sour options around the Sound, however, the best Sour Ales Seattlites could hope to find came out of Portland – specifically Cascade Brewing. Their Sours are legendary around the Northwest and, while we have many great local options now, Cascade is still putting out World class Sour Ales that still catch my interest. They’re a must visit every time I’m in Portland. Now Cascade is preparing to release their latest offering: Mango Road.

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Ferment Brewing Releases Their Version Of Black Is Beautiful

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Black Lives Matter. If you don’t agree, then you’re reading the wrong blog. As the #BLM movement has swept the nation and placed us in the middle of the biggest civil rights movement in decades, craft breweries across the nation and around the World have been doing their part to help.

One of the most visible ways craft breweries are helping is by brewing Black Is Beautiful – a collaborative effort with more than 720+ breweries across the nation and World brewing their own version and sending the profits to local organizations that promote police brutality reform, as well promoting equity and inclusion. We’ve already seen several versions released locally from breweries like Future Primitive, Stoup, Reuben’s and more. Now, it’s Ferment Brewing‘s turn.

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Counterbalance Brewing & Good Society Brewery Collaborate On “Long Way Round”

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2020 has thrown a lot at us. It’s stressing everyone out, pushing businesses to their limit and, in some sad cases, has even claimed a few of our favorite spots. Getting through this will be tough, but with resourcefulness and perseverance, many businesses are doing what it takes to keep thing afloat.

To help with the struggle during these difficult times, Couterbalance Brewing has teamed up with Good Society Brewery and Public House in West Seattle to create a new IPA: Long Way Round.

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Sierra Nevada to Release Dankful IPA, Donate $1 Million to Community Nonprofits

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Chico, CA—Sierra Nevada announced plans today to release Dankful IPA, a generously hoppy beer that will help the brewery raise funds for a variety of charitable works. The brewery has committed to at least $1 million in donations through the program over the next year.
Dankful is brewed in honor of the nonprofits who are dedicated to the important work of supporting our communities. A hoppy West Coast-style IPA, Dankful will be on shelves in cans nationwide starting in mid-September. The beer is 7.4% ABV with 55 IBU and has a resinous flavor with notes of pine and tropical fruit.

Rather than making donations contingent upon Dankful sales success, Sierra Nevada has committed to at least $1 million in donations over the next year, which will be supported in part by Dankful sales. Sierra Nevada will partner with new nonprofits each quarter, allowing the brewery to be nimble and immediate in its efforts.

“With ongoing fundraising through Dankful, we can immediately support those nonprofits doing critical work in our communities by getting them what they need when they need it,” explained Sierra Nevada Vice President Sierra Grossman. “Dankful allows us to focus on what we do best: supporting the causes we believe in and brewing great beer.”

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Georgetown Brewing Cans Manny’s For The First Time

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Our World is changing. These days, most of us aren’t going about our usual daily routines the way we were just a few months ago. We’ve all had to make adjustments and that’s especially true of local small businesses, like breweries, trying to stay afloat in these trying times. Willingness to try new things has become a necessity for survival.

It wasn’t until just a couple of years ago that Georgetown Brewing Company started canning some of their beers. You can walk into just about any store that carries craft beer these days and find canned six-packs of Lucille, Roger’s Pilsner or Bodhizafa IPA. However, Georgtown’s flagship beer: Manny’s Pale Ale, has been conspicuously missing from their canned offerings, until now that is. On Saturday, May 23rd, Georgetown Brewing will offer Manny’s in the can for the first time.

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Medianoche Is Coming To Tavour From WeldWerks Brewing

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The COVID-19 crisis has made things difficult for many businesses, forcing them to look for new ways to do business and get their products to consumers. Most craft breweries have been quick to adapt and one company that’s really been benefiting as a result is Tavour. Breweries are looking to them as another way to increase their distribution and get their beers into the hands of more consumers.

Just last week I was telling you how Mikkeller had started making their beers available through Tavour. Now, WeldWerks Brewing out of Colorado is getting in on the act. They’ll be making their popular Medianoche Imperial Stout available through Tavour starting next week.

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Mikkeller Beers To Be Available Through Tavour

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I published an article introducing Tavour way back in 2015. They started somewhat small and most of the beers I could get through them back then I could also find at my local bottle shops. Since then, however, they’ve really grown. I started using Tavour again myself over the past few months, and I’ve really been impressed with the selection. I see lots of beers from them these days that I would never be able to find in any local shops.

As we’ve all been dealing with the COVID-19 crisis, many breweries have looked to Tavour to help increase sales. In fact, Seattle’s own Holy Mountain Brewing put some of their beers on Tavour last month which, to my knowledge, is the first time Holy Mountain beers have been available through Tavour. Now, the popular and well known brewery Mikkeller will start selling their beers through Tavour.

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The Oregon Brewer’s Festival Has Been Cancelled Due To COVID-19

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This is not the first event to be cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns, and it certainly won’t be the last. Here is a statement about the cancellation from Oregon Brewers Festival founder, Art Larrance & his team:

Dear Friends of the Oregon Brewers Festival,

We are devastated to share that we have made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Oregon Brewers Festival, originally scheduled for this July 22-25. This will be the first time in 33 years that the iconic July event will not take place.

This decision was not made lightly. At the onset of the COVID-19 virus, we were hopeful that the situation might resolve itself by late July. But the health and safety of our guests, vendors, staff and volunteers is our top priority, and we have decided the risk of holding the festival is too great. The Oregon Brewers Festival is attended by thousands of visitors from all over the world. The last thing we would want to do is hold an event that could contribute to the spread of the virus and potentially introduce a second wave of infections.
It’s important for us to make sure that when the festival returns next year, it does so in a way that’s safe and ensures our guests feel secure. We will spend this downtime carefully planning on how to hold a successful event in a post-pandemic world.

The Oregon Brewers Festival will return July 28-31, 2021. In the meantime, we urge you to support your local craft breweries and cidermakers; place orders for curbside pickup or delivery and follow them on social media for the latest news on how to help. It has been estimated that up to 46% of craft breweries may be forced to close due to the pandemic. The Oregon Brewers Festival is a celebration of craft beer, and we need to make sure our breweries are still standing when this crisis has passed.
Until then, stay safe, be kind, and wash your hands. Cheers!

Founder Art Larrance and the entire Oregon Brewers Festival Team

About the Oregon Brewers Festival
The Oregon Brewers Festival got its start in Portland, Oregon, in July 1988 as the brainchild of Art Larrance, one of the founding fathers of Oregon craft beer. Back then, there were only four microbreweries in operation in Portland (BridgePort, McMenamins, Portland and Widmer), and two others across the state (Full Sail and Deschutes). Today, the Oregon Brewers Festival is one of the nation’s longest running and best loved craft beer festivals; it’s also one the largest of its kind. Located on the west bank of the Willamette River, with majestic Mt. Hood as a backdrop, it is the ideal venue for beer lovers to congregate. With a laid-back attitude and scores of beers, the festival embodies the spirit of the city of Portland. Around 50,000 visitors annually travel from all parts of the world to drink up what the festival has to offer while infusing millions of dollars into the local economy.

Try not to get too disheartened by all of these event cancellations. I love craft beer just as much as the rest of you but, right now, keeping everyone safe and healthy is more important that gathering in large groups to appreciate the labors of our favorite breweries. Do what you can to keep supporting as many of your local breweries as you can, and we’ll get through this together.

Drink responsibly and stay safe out there.